3 Board Gaming Bad Habits to Rethink in 2026

1. Buying the games everyone else says you should

You know you’ve done this before: buy a game just because everyone seems to be talking about it, or because a friend or someone you follow says it’s good… and then you hate it.

Were they lying? Is there something wrong with you? Will you dislike every game that gets hype?

Not really. It’s only a matter of taste.

Our taste in board games, much like our taste in music or TV shows, is entirely our own. And even though a game can always surprise you, there are some things you can do to make sure you find more fun than frustration out there.

In the beginning, everything is new, and you should absolutely be exploring new mechanics, weights, and themes. Maybe you can even do it without buying a single game. Use the power of your local game café, your FLGS, and your friends’ collections to your advantage—if you have access to any of that where you live. But once you figure out that, let’s say, engine building is fun for you, while bluffing isn’t so much, or that nature is a much more interesting theme than Western, you have everything you need to turn down that torturous match of Bang! and go with Wingspan instead. Or maybe it’s exactly the opposite for you. That is part of the fun!

The work of journalists and content creators is valuable, just not in the way some people might think. It is their job to give an honest opinion based on their game knowledge, and most of them do exactly that, but you might be under the impression that people only say good things about all games, or that everyone is always talking about the next best thing.

Why would they only say good things? There are several possible reasons for that. including but not limited to the publisher’s relationship with creators (are they likely to cut ties with a creator that publicly admits to disliking one of their games?) and the creator’s own personality (perhaps they just prefer to hype up what they like and not spend time talking about what they don’t like?).

And talking about the game that is currently hyped or a new release is simply playing to the current rules of the internet. Being the first to post gives you visibility. Being part of a trend does that, too.

So, instead of thinking, “I’m buying this game because everyone is talking about it,” a more effective way of using the information they are giving us could be, “What do they like about it, and how does it align with my taste in games?” Sometimes, even a negative review can convince you to buy a game, while a positive review can make you stay away from it.

This is the sort of balance I personally tried to do here with a post about the massive hit that is Coffee Rush. Not “is it good?” but “who is it good for?”

2. Mistaking personal taste for quality

This complements item 1, in a way. Once you figure out what elements make up your taste in games, you get to use that knowledge to your advantage. Look up lesser-known games with your favorite mechanics, avoid experiences that don’t match any of the aspects you find fun or challenging, and don’t stuff your collection with games you dislike.

But it is very important to not mistake your opinion with some sort of universal truth, especially as you “outgrow” the so-called gateway games.

The very elements that are bad to you might be exactly what is most fun to someone else. Not only is it ineffective to try and convince people that what they like is somehow inferior, it’s also unnecessary and unpleasant. If you’re trying to play with people who aren’t as hardcore as you or have opposite tastes, work together to find a middle ground. Instead of a party game or heavy euro, how about something like 7 Wonders: Architects, which is simple to learn, looks gorgeous, and has a good mix of luck and strategy?

And if possible, have different friends who you can play different kinds of games with.  Less “how can you like this shitty game?” and more “this one didn’t work for me, because the mechanics don’t match my taste.” Getting to meet new people at game fairs and other such events also increases your chances of making friends who have similar tastes. You have the right to play what you like. Everyone else does, too.

3. Not eating or drinking anything during play sessions

We get it: it’s important to not ruin your games. These cardboard boxes filled with paper, wood, and more cardboard can be expensive or have a high personal value, and they are easily susceptible to damage. Whether it’s the stain of a drop of coffee on the game board, the greasy hand that touched a card, or a crumb of Doritos that sneakily made its way into the box, it’s best to be careful and not let any of that happen. That is why we sleeve our cards, and also why some board gamers have adopted drastic measures to protect their games. One of the most popular is the “no food or drinks anywhere near the game” rule.

Luckily, there are ways to protect our games from damage without leaving behind a key aspect of any social gathering, which is the food and drinks.

I should probably mention I’m assuming the people you play with have good intentions and wouldn’t be careless on purpose if you asked them to be careful. And if they don’t respect that, the problem is most definitely not the drinks. Having the right people and a comfortable, well-equipped space relieves a lot of the pressure, trust me.

A good gaming table with the right accessories really helps in this process. For example, you can have a table with a recessed game vault and toppers, and some really cool cup holders attached to it. That way, your game is as safe as your drinks, and gameplay can be paused at any time to enjoy some snacks just by placing the toppers.

The core of all these ideas, and of most of the others we didn’t get to talk about, is a deep desire to make our hobby as enjoyable as it can be. This is what our bad habits get in the way of.  If you love playing board games, if this is something that is important to you, you probably deserve to have a good time playing, right? Know your taste and limits, have nice people around (and be nice to them, too, because they also deserve to have a good time ), and adjust your physical space to your needs. And have fun playing in 2026!